Vote Now! Best Space Stories of the Week - April 14, 2013

Black Hole Snacks, Rain on Saturn and a Mars Landing in 2017

In the last week the sun unleashed a massive solar flare, a black hole was caught snacking and Saturn's rings cause water rain. See the top stories of the last week here.
<p>FIRST STOP:
Sun Unleashes Biggest Solar Flare of the Year Yet

Sun Unleashes Biggest Solar Flare of the Year Yet

The sun erupted with the strongest solar flare yet seen in 2013 on Thursday, April 11, 2013. See photos and video of the solar storm here. [<a href=http://www.space.com/20617-sun-biggest-solar-flare-2013.html>Full Story</a>]
<p>NEXT:
New Mars Photos May Reveal 1970s Soviet Lander

New Mars Photos May Reveal 1970s Soviet Lander

The remains of the 1972 Mars 3 lander might be visible in recent Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter photos. [<a href=http://www.space.com/20527-north-korea-nuclear-threat-united-states.html>Full Story</a>]
<p>NEXT: North Korea Rocket Rundown: How Far Can They Fly?

North Korea Rocket Rundown: How Far Can They Fly?

A brief rundown of Pyongyang's stable of potentially dangerous rockets and missiles, based on Western experts' best guesses. [<a href=http://www.space.com/20527-north-korea-nuclear-threat-united-states.html>Full Story</a>]
<p>NEXT: For Private Manned Mars Mission, It's Make-or-Break Time

For Private Manned Mars Mission, It's Make-or-Break Time

Progress made during the next year or so will determine whether a private manned Mars mission can get off the ground in 2018 as planned, its organizers say. [<a href=http://www.space.com/20527-north-korea-nuclear-threat-united-states.html>Full Story</a>]
<p>NEXT: Most of Mars' Atmosphere Is Lost in Space

Black Hole Caught Snacking on 'Super Jupiter' Planet

Astronomers watched as a black hole swallowed a giant planet recently. [<a href=http://www.space.com/20580-black-hole-eats-giant-planet.html>Full Story</a>]
<p>NEXT: A New Yorker's View of the Southern Sky

A New Yorker's View of the Southern Sky

A New York reporter glimpses the southern hemisphere night sky for the first time, from one of the best stargazing spots on the planet. [<a href=http://www.space.com/20541-southern-hemisphere-night-sky.html>Full Story</a>]
<p>NEXT: How to Brush Your Teeth in Space (Video)

How to Brush Your Teeth in Space (Video)

Canadian space man Chris Hadfield shows how astronauts brush their teeth in space without making a mess. [<a href=http://www.space.com/20478-how-astronauts-brush-teeth-video.html>Full Story</a>]
<p>NEXT: Saturn's Dazzling Rings Make It 'Rain'

Saturn's Dazzling Rings Make It 'Rain'

The rings of Saturn are showering the planet itself with water rain, a new study reveals. [<a href=http://www.space.com/20595-saturn-rings-rain-water.html?cmpid=514639>Full Story</a>]
<p>NEXT:
Obama Seeks $17.7 Billion for NASA to Lasso Asteroid, Explore Space

Obama Seeks $17.7 Billion for NASA to Lasso Asteroid, Explore Space

NASA unveiled a $17.7 billion spending plan for 2014 today (April 10) that continues major ongoing space exploration projects, while including funds to kick-start an audacious new mission to capture a small asteroid and park it near the moon so astronauts can explore it by 2025. [<a href=http://www.space.com/20605-nasa-budget-asteroid-lasso-2014.html>Full Story</a>]
<p>NEXT:
Moon Base Over Asteroid? Lawmakers Push for Lunar Landing by 2022

Moon Base Over Asteroid? Lawmakers Push for Lunar Landing by 2022

While NASA's proposed budget for next year affirms its goal of sending astronauts to an asteroid, some members of Congress are pushing for the agency to put bootprints on the moon again by 2022. [<a href=http://www.space.com/20600-nasa-manned-moon-mission-congress.html>Full Story</a>]
<p>NEXT:
NASA's Mars-Bound Mega Rocket on Track for 2017 Test Launch

NASA's Mars-Bound Mega Rocket on Track for 2017 Test Launch

NASA's Space Launch System (SLS), a heavy-lift rocket designed to take humans to Mars, is ahead of schedule and on budget, its contractor says. [<a href=http://www.space.com/20626-nasa-giant-rocket-2017-test.html>Full Story</a>]